I hope you like this fanfiction. I've heard nothing on the last four or five chapters from others than Labbetussa, and it really bothers me.

Please read my note at the end of this chapter.

Chapter 6

We had followed Fili and Kili to the place where the door to the troll cave was. There was only one problem. We were stuck outside it. Even if all of us had tried to push the door up, while Gandalf tried every spell he remembered, it didn't work. I was about to say that maybe it was a bad idea to come there, and that we should continue on our journey, when Bilbo spoke up.

"Do you think this can be used for something?" he asked, and held up a key which could be small for a troll, but huge for a hobbit. "I found it on the ground close to the fire."

"Why didn't you mention that earlier?" the dwarves exclaimed. I hid a small smile and shook my head in silence. Bilbo was a strange hobbit, no doubt in that. I watched as Gandalf took the key and put it in the keyhole. The door swung up, and most of the company entered. I stayed outside, together with Fili and Kili who were put to watch the ponies again, and Bilbo who didn't want to go inside. I decided it wouldn't hurt to take a small look inside, so I peered in through the open door. Bones were laying on the floor, and the air was filled with a terrible stench. On the shelves and the floor there was a lot of food, mixed with gold, silver, diamonds and other treasures. On the walls there hang clothes which had to be too small for the trolls, and I swallowed when I thought who the clothes could've been on. Between the clothes there hang swords in different sizes. Two of the swords had caught the interest of Gandalf and Thorin.

I shuddered and quickly turned away from the cave. This, however, was only to face Bilbo. For a few seconds we only stared at each other. "Hi", I finally said, and my voice was thin. I wondered why Bilbo had come to talk to me, and at the same time I was afraid he might decide he wanted to bind me to Myrtle so I wouldn't go with Fili and Kili.

Bilbo took a deep breath before looking into my eyes. "Rosie", he began. "I've decided that you can go with Fili and Kili, but I still want you to marry Merry when we return to Hobbiton."

"You can't decide who I'm going to marry!" I replied. "It's my life, not yours! I'm not your little, pretty girl any longer. In one year I'm grown, and I have to start and take responsibility for my own life." For a few seconds we stared at each other, then, to my big surprise, Bilbo bowed his head with a sigh.

"Fine. I shall say no more, but don't come and tell me I didn't try to help you." My eyes widened. Did he really say what I thought he was saying? Did he actually say I could tell Merry 'no'? Yes. That was exactly what he had just said. With a laughter I threw myself at him and hugged him.

"I love you", I muttered into his ear. He put his arms around me and I could feel him smile. Then we pulled away from each other, just as the others bean exiting the cave. Out they carried a few small chests filled with treasures, together with the food which still was possible to eat. Bifur and Bofur also brought out some beer they had found deep inside the cave, and that lightened the mood between the dwarves.

So we decided to make breakfast, and since the dwarves were hungry it didn't matter to them what state the food was in, as long as it was possible to eat, and as long as they had some beer to drink. I and Bilbo, however, were a bit more sceptical, and ended therefore up with some fruit we had brought with us all the way from Bag End. Anyway, we sat together with the others, and to be more specific, we sat together with Fili and Kili. I didn't say much during the meal, but both Fili and Kili made a lot of jokes, and they also talked a lot with Bilbo.

After this joyful meal, we were "ordered" to get some rest before we could continue. I put the cloak under my head, just as a pillow, but didn't cover with the blanket, since it was warm, and the sun shone down on us. Most of the dwarves quickly fell asleep, but a few of them didn't. One of those, were Kili. If I turned my head, I could see him, but I didn't, since I heard him very well. He was humming some tune which sounded known, yet different, while whittling something.

"Kili?" I asked. The humming stopped, and I turned my head to look at him. He had stopped whittling, and his eyes were fixed on me. "Are you and Fili really brothers?" He frowned and his eyes got filled with confusion.

"Yes, but why do you ask so?"

I turned my gaze back to the blue sky above me. "I don't want to be rude, even if I know it might sound so, but you're... different. Fili looks more like a dwarf than... you." Quickly I glanced over at him. He didn't look at me anymore, and I knew I had hurt him.

"I've heard that before", he sighed and returned to the piece of wood and the whittling. "I've always been teased because I look too elvish."

"No!" I exclaimed, sat up and moved over to him. "You don't look elvish at all!" Gently I laid a hand against his cheek. His beard stung a bit, but it was that kind of sting which didn't hurt at all. "You look dwarfish in a different way." He lifted his gaze until his eyes locked with mine. "You're different from other dwarves, Kili", I whispered. "And that's why I like you."

"You... like me because I'm different?" he whispered.

"You're that kind of man I can fall in love with", I replied and smiled a small smile. I hadn't expected him to react as he did. With no warning, he let go of the knife and the piece of wood, put his arms around me, pulled me close to him, and laid his forehead on my shoulder. First, I wasn't sure what to do, but then I smiled again, and put my own arms around him. Since he was broader than me, my arms didn't get entirely around him, but it didn't really matter. Words appeared in my head. Words of a long forgotten song:

"I wish you could be, all you ever dreamed. Move on, no regrets, try to be the absolute best.

Stand on your own, you can make it, be someone. Win the war in your head, that's what the wise lady said.

There'll be times, when you can't face, the weary lights of day. But be strong and believe, you can be anything you wish to be.

Don't let your fears hold you back. Life's not meant to be easy, find justice for what you lack.

Time will heal the scars, be proud of who you are."

When I stopped singing, Kili's breath told me he was asleep. Still with a small smile on my lips, I carefully released myself from him, and laid him down on the blanket he had been sitting on.

"Don't leave me", he muttered, still half asleep.

"I'll stay here until you awake", I replied in a whisper, sat down beside him with my back against a tree, and gently stroke the bang out of his eyes. He seemed small and innocent when he laid there, curled up on the blanket with his fist clenched.

I must had fallen asleep, 'cause I awoke by someone calling my name. "Rosie, we're going to continue." I blinked and glanced into Bilbo's green eyes. "Come on", he said. "We have to get moving." I yawned and slowly got to my feet. Quickly I noticed Kili's sleeping place was empty, even if his things were still there.

"Where are Fili and Kili?" I asked when I realized none of them were there. Bilbo shrugged, and I turned my gaze to Thorin, who nodded toward the troll statues. I couldn't see them between the trees, but I knew they were there.

Quickly I packed my own things, before following the path back to the trolls. Thorin had been right. Kili was sitting at the top of one of the trolls, while Fili was down at the ground, telling him to come down. I stopped and hid behind a tree.

"Kili, come down NOW!" Fili commanded.

"Not before you admit it", Kili teased with a grin. He held up something which looked like a piece of wood.

"How many times do I have to say it?!" Fili shouted furious. "I am no lion. How can you compare me with an animal?"

I smiled as I peered around the tree. That was the reason. Kili had told me that he often envied Fili for looking and acting like a lion, but Fili didn't want to admit it. A plan appeared in my head. After some searching, I found the largest handkerchief I had. Then I peered out behind the tree again. Kili was still teasing Fili, and Fili had became quite angry. Like a lion, I thought with a smile. Totally soundless I sneaked out. When Kili glanced my way, I shook my head frenetic. To my big relief, he took the hint, and Fili didn't notice anything.

I held my breath as I slowly lifted my arms.

"What are you smiling at?" Fili asked, still glaring up at Kili. I put the handkerchief in front of his eyes and quickly tied it at the back of his head. "By Durin!" he exclaimed, but didn't get to finish, since I unsheathed the dagger Kili had given me, and lightly pointed it in his back.

"Come on", I said. "Are you going to admit or deny?" Fili cursed.

"Fine, you won. I admit. I'm a lion." I laughed and sheathed the dagger. Then I helped Fili loosen the handkerchief. As soon as it was removed, Fili spun around, grabbed me and pushed me to the ground. An exclaim left me, but then I began to laugh as he tickled me.

"Stop!" I laughed as I tried to push him away.

"Fili, you heard her!" Kili shouted from the top of the troll. "Let her go!" Fili stopped, but a wide grin appeared on his face, and he didn't let go of me.

"Help!" I shouted with a smile. My eyes were fixed on Kili. "My prince, help me! Rescue me from the Evil Lion!" Both the brothers stared at me in confusion, then they laughed.

"So now it's that game", Fili commented, just as Kili replied.

"My Lady, stay still! I'll rescue you and kill the Lion!" Quickly, and much more easily than I expected, he climbed down from the troll statue, picked up a staff from the ground – there were a lot of them – and aimed it at Fili. "For the beautiful Lady of the Bag End!" he shouted and began to run.

Fili quickly picked up another staff to defend himself, and then the two brothers clashed together. At first, Kili didn't do much more than to dive or jump aside each time Fili tried to strike him, but then he began to try to hit Fili. The oldest really went into the role as " the Evil Lion", and I was sure the roars could be heard the whole way to the camp. It seemed as if I was right, 'cause after about five minutes of fighting, Thorin, Dwalin, Bilbo and a few others appeared.

"For Durin's sake!" Thorin exclaimed. "What's going on here?!" He didn't get any answer, and had to watch the fight as it developed. Suddenly Fili made a mistake. He swung the staff at Kili who dived under it, and in that way Fili became open for strikes. Kili grabbed the chance and placed the staff at Fili's chest. I stared wide eyed as Fili pulled back, let go of his own staff and then fell to the ground. It seemed as if Kili also became worried, 'cause he let go of the staff and shouted his brother's name.

"Don't mind me!" Fili hissed. "Isn't it now you're going to rescue the beautiful Lady of the Bag End?" Both I and Kili smiled when we realized Fili was only playing. Kili quickly hurried over to me and went down on one knee in front of me.

"My Lady, are you okay?" he asked. I could tell he tried to sound concerned, something which didn't work really well. "The Evil Lion didn't hurt you, did he?" He helped me up. I smiled, still with my hands resting in his warm hands.

"No, my Brave Prince", I replied before placing a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you for saving me." I pulled back. Kili's eyes were wide, and his ears turned red.

"A-any time", he stuttered. I laughed.

"Could someone please explain this to me?" Thorin asked in his deep, demanding voice. Fili got to his feet, startled since he hadn't noticed his uncle earlier.

"Uncle, we-we were only playing", Fili replied.

"And why the staffs?" Thorin demanded. Kili had moved back to Fili's side, and I had followed, clenching Kili's arm. Thorin's temperament could scare me to death. I swallowed and glanced at first Kili, then Fili, but none of them seemed to be willing to explain any further.

"Thorin", I finally said. His blue eyes moved to me, and I clenched Kili's arm even tighter. "It was nothing but a game. Fili was the Evil Lion who had caught me, the – what did you call me?" I glanced at Kili for a few seconds, but then I remembered. "The beautiful Lady of the Bag End, and Kili was the Brave Prince who should rescue the Lady by swordfight. Therefore the staffs." For a few seconds everything was silent, then Thorin began to laugh. Everybody stared at him in shock and confusion, but he only continued to laugh until he had to get support from a nearby tree. When he finally stopped laughing, he dried tears from his eyes.

"Well, then", he said and shook his head. "I believe your work is done?" Fili and Kili nodded. "Good. Let's go back. The rest of the company is waiting." When Thorin turned his back to us, Kili glanced down at me – I didn't reach him higher than the shoulders.

"I think you can let go of me now." He grinned. "I've lost the feelings in my fingers."

"Sorry!" I exclaimed and quickly let go of him. Fili chuckled, and I knew he still was a bit effected after Thorin's first stern tone. If he hadn't been, he'd laughed. I felt the heat stream into my cheeks and bowed my head. "Let's go", I muttered.

When we returned to the rest of the company, the camp was nowhere to be seen, but it didn't surprise me any longer. I had learned how good dwarves were at cleaning after themselves. As usual. We got on our ponies, and soon I was riding behind Gandalf and Thorin, together with Bilbo.

"If I'm allowed to ask", Thorin said, "where did you go when you left us?" I straightened in the saddle and listened to their conversation. That was something I had been thinking about too.

"To look ahead", Gandalf replied, and I thought I could hear a small chuckle in his voice.

"And what brought you back?" Thorin questioned.

"I looked behind", the wizard answered cryptically. I shook my head in disbelief. How was it possible?

"Excellent", Thorin muttered before continuing a bit louder. "But could you express it a bit clearer?" This time I was sure Gandalf chuckled.

"I went to search out the rout. Soon it'll be difficult and dangerous, and besides I think it is important to get provisions, since we don't have much left. But I didn't get far before I met a few friends from Rivendell."

"Where's that?" Bilbo suddenly asked.

"Don't interrupt!" Gandalf snapped. "If we're lucky, we'll reach it in a few days, and then you can find out by yourself. As I said – I met two of Elrond's folk. They were in a hurry since they were afraid of the trolls. It was them who told me that three trolls had came down from the mountains and moved to the forest, not far from the road. They had scared away all from this place, and have been waiting by the road to take peoples who came. I felt that you could be in need of me, so I looked behind, spotted the fire and hurried toward it. So now you know. Be careful in the future, otherwise you won't come far."

"Hm", was all Thorin replied at this. For a while everything was silent. "But I still don't see why we have to go there, to this... elven place. Why can't you just ask them to bring the provisions out to the road?"

"Thorin Oakenshield", Gandalf said in nearly the same tone as Thorin used when he as usually talked to Fili and Kili. "Do you know that you have a group of orcs hunting you? Do you know that Rivendell is the best shelter you can get, and that it would be wise to visit Lord Elrond? And besides, did you know that Lord Elrond could help us find out of the map, and what stands on the swords?" This time Thorin didn't reply at all. "Then it's decided", Gandalf said in a suddenly cheerful tone. "We're going to Rivendell." Thorin quickly tried to come with protests, but Gandalf didn't listen, and soon we were lead by a cheerful wizard, and a grumpy dwarf.

By myself, I couldn't believe it. We were going to see elves! We would actually meet Lord Elrond who I had read so much about! I stopped Caramel and waited for Fili and Kili.

"You know what?" I asked. They glanced at me and shook their heads. "We're going to Rivendell!" The two brothers stared at me.

"Who've said that?" Fili finally asked as Kili made his way over to the other side of me.

"Gandalf", I replied with a smile.

"And what about uncle Thorin?" Kili asked. "Isn't he the one who's supposed to lead our company?"

"You should've seen his face. It was hilarious!" I giggled.

"I'm sure it was", Fili replied, "because he don't like elves. The dwarves who lived under the Blue Mountain don't like elves." He said it as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Why?" I asked. That had to be a story I hadn't neither heard or read yet. The two of the stared at me in disbelief.

"Don't tell us you haven't heard that story!" Kili finally exclaimed. I frowned and went through my mind. Layer of layer with memories.

"Maybe..." I muttered. "Has it something to do with the elves from Mirkwood and Thranduil betraying them?"

"Not that short after all", Kili grinned and I slapped his arm lightly.

"Fine, but those elves are from Rivendell, not Mirkwood. I've heard that elves are a merry people. I think you'd like them and their music", I said.

"Their music", Fili huffed. "It's slow and tearful. Boring. They don't have the rapid tones in their harps and flutes!" I shook my head in disbelief.

"You haven't even met an elf yet! How can you judge someone you haven't met?" I questioned, and my eyes were wide.

"Uncle Thorin have told us a lot of them", Kili replied.

"And from what you just said, he don't like elves. Therefore it's only naturally that he would tell you all the bad things about them, and not the good ones." The two of them glanced at me in confusion.

"Oh, fine", Fili finally said with another huff. "We'll give them a chance, but remember: Only one chance." I smiled before hugging first him, then Kili.

"You're the best brothers in the whole world!"

First, the song is "What The Wise Lady Said" by Angtoria.

As I said in the beginning, I'd like you to read this note:

If no one gives me feedback on this story, I'll remove it. Even if it'll hurt like **** for me, it won't matter. I know there are more than only Labbetussa who reads this, and I would be really thankful to you if you could leave a review.

Sincerely,

Katrine L.